Charlie Kirk smile has become one of the longest-running memes on social media. The Turning Point USA founder’s wide, gummy smile, often described as unsettling or scary by online audiences, has been parodied, edited, and remixed across platforms for years. From a photo in 2017 to a TikTok video with 56 million views in 2024, here’s how the Charlie Kirk smile meme came about and why it keeps resurfacing.
Where the Charlie Kirk Smile Meme Started
On January 17, 2017, Kirk posted a photo on X (formerly Twitter) with political advisor Kellyanne Conway after Donald Trump’s inauguration. He smiled broadly for the camera, but the photo did not garner much attention at the time.
The first wave of mockery came after a Fox News segment in July 2020. Kirk appeared in a discussion about the protests and unrest in Portland, Oregon, related to the demonstrations following the killing of George Floyd. At the end of the video, Kirk smiled and laughed for the camera. The moment captured the internet’s attention.
By November 2020, posts mocking his expression began to gain attention on X. One popular post asked whether Kirk had given up, garnering over 1,700 likes.
Charlie Kirk Smile Goes Viral in 2023
Conway’s photo resurfaced in January 2023 and went viral quickly. Many accounts reposted the unedited image, and the reactions were overwhelming. One widely shared post said the photo was truly terrifying, garnering over 107,000 likes. The original 2017 tweet received thousands of new replies mocking Charlie Kirk smile.
This second wave proved the meme’s durability. Even without new images, one image was enough to reignite the conversation and spread across social media overnight.
| Year | Key Event | Platform |
| 2017 | Original photo with Kellyanne Conway posted | X / Twitter |
| 2020 | Fox News clip sparks first mocking posts | X / Twitter |
| 2023 | Conway photo goes viral again | X / Twitter |
| 2024 | Jubilee debate clip triggers massive meme wave | TikTok, X |
The Jubilee Debate That Reignited the Charlie Kirk Smile Meme
In September 2024, Kirk appeared in a YouTube video titled “If Liberal College Students Could Outsmart a Single Conservative.” A clip from that episode became the current defining moment for the Charlie Kirk smile meme.
During a debate about abortion with a contestant named Naima Troutt (known on TikTok as @hair.soup), Kirk incorrectly stated that “fetus” translates to “little person” in Latin. He then smiled directly at Naima, who immediately responded by calling the expression “very creepy.” When Kirk asked if the smile was creepy, Naima clarified that it was specifically her smile.
Jubilee posted the clip to TikTok on September 10, 2024. Within ten days, it had garnered over 56.4 million views and 5.6 million likes. It became one of the most viewed clips related to an internet phenomenon that year.
Creator Response to the Charlie Kirk Smile Clip
TikTok and X creators quickly joined the trend. One TikToker drew Charlie Kirk’s smile on paper next to the original video, which has garnered nearly 4 million views. YouTuber and artist MeatCanyon posted his own illustrated version of X, which has garnered nearly 492,000 likes in a single day.
On September 18, X user @beyoncegarden reposted the video, which has garnered over 234,000 likes. The next day, @grillpill_ quoted that post, added two screenshots of Kirk and Naima, and captioned it directly. That post has garnered over 319,000 likes in four days.
| Metric | Number |
| TikTok views on Jubilee clip | 56.4 million+ |
| TikTok likes on Jubilee clip | 5.6 million+ |
| Likes on MeatCanyon’s drawing | 492,000+ |
| Likes on @grillpill_ post | 319,000+ |
Why the Charlie Kirk Smile Meme Keeps Coming Back
The meme has endured because each new public appearance provides fresh material for its creators. Kirk’s broad, rubbery expression creates a stark contrast to his serious political persona. This gap between tone and appearance is what fuels internet humour.
Meme formats that rely on a fixed visual signature (a recognisable face or expression) tend to last longer than those based on text. Kirk’s smile fits this pattern. It’s instantly recognisable, easily captured, and easily remixed into new formats.
From a photo from the 2017 inauguration to a 2024 debate video with 56 million TikTok views, the Charlie Kirk smile meme has endured multiple cycles. Each new event—a TV appearance, a viral video, a public debate—invigorates the next. It shows no signs of disappearing from online culture anytime soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Charlie Kirk smile meme?
The Charlie Kirk smile meme mocks the conservative commentator’s wide, rubbery smile. Photos and videos of his expression have been edited and shared on X, TikTok, and other platforms since 2020.
Why did Charlie Kirk smile go viral in 2024?
A YouTube video from Jubilee in September 2024 showed Kirk smiling at a debate opponent named Naima Troutt, who called the expression “so creepy.” The TikTok version has garnered over 56 million views in ten days.
Who is Naima Troutt in the Charlie Kirk smile video?
Naima Troutt is a TikTok creator (@hair.soup) who participated in a Jubilee debate with Kirk. She called his smile “creepy” on camera, which sparked a massive wave of memes.
What did MeatCanyon draw of Charlie Kirk?
YouTuber and artist MeatCanyon posted an illustrated version of Kirk smiling at X in September 2024. The drawing received nearly 492,000 likes in 24 hours.
Where did the original image of Charlie Kirk Smile come from?
Kirk posted the original image of X on January 17, 2017, with Kellyanne Conway at Trump’s inauguration. The image resurfaced and went viral in January 2023.
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